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Chinese abattoir workers face deportation

TIM PALMER: Six Chinese families who've been living in Warrnambool in Victoria's south-west for the past six years, could be deported, after some of them failed an English test.

The families came to Australia to fill jobs at the local abattoir. They say they want to stay - and they've won the support of many in the town.

And the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen, is now considering whether to overturn deportation orders against them.

As Liz Hobday reports.

LIZ HOBDAY: Leo Huang's family arrived in the coastal town of Warrnambool in 2006, with the promise of work at the town's abattoir, Midfield Meats. Since then he's graduated from the local high school, while he and his parents have become part of the community, volunteering at the town's winter festival and working in the local community garden.

Now, they and five other families face the prospect of returning to China.

LEO HUANG: It's not fair for our family in that we already live here for six years and we become just a part of this community and culture and you helped us and then we have to leave. You know it's not fair for us and for all the families.

LIZ HOBDAY: Leo Huang's family and several others were promised permanent residency when they were recruited by the abattoir in 2006, but, thanks to changes in immigration laws the following year, their future is now uncertain.

Noel Kelson from Midfield Meats says it's hard to find people in country Victoria to do abattoir work.

NOEL KELSON: They are critically skilled jobs - the processing of animals for meat for human consumption has become extraordinarily demanding over the recent years with the need for high level microbiological outcomes in terms of carcass cleanliness and these people are particularly skilled in achieving those outcomes.

LIZ HOBDAY: Midfield Meats has offered to sponsor the families for further work visas or permanent residency - but it's been a drawn-out process.

Noel Kelson says changes to 457 skilled migrant visas now mean there are tougher English requirements for meatworkers, among other changes. He says one of his Chinese staff fell short on an English test by half a point and his application for permanent residency has now been rejected by the Migration Review Tribunal.

NOEL KELSON: We're desperately disappointed that after a very long process through the Migration Review Tribunal, indeed the decision in the first instance and then subsequently further Migration Review Tribunal, that it's come to a circumstance where their application for exceptional circumstance in the decision-making process hasn't been recognised.

LIZ HOBDAY: He says the company has no problems communicating with its Chinese workers.

NOEL KELSON: It's quite ironic that in this electronic age that this requirement for English language is as predominant as it is. We as a business deal daily with China and places elsewhere in the world through electronic means that gives us the ability to directly communicate with nations of all languages and it's just somewhat ironic that this now is this intense requirement on skilled persons entering the country.

LIZ HOBDAY: Others in the town are also disappointed. Warrnambool resident Chris McEwan says she and others have also offered to sponsor the families involved.

CHRIS MCEWAN: The Warrnambool people are really shocked. It's all been done very quietly, it's all just sort of happened quickly and they're in shock and they're cross because they know how much value the Chinese have been in our community; the work they've done. They know the hard yards they've put in and to have been here for so long and part of our community now for so long, we want them to stay.

LIZ HOBDAY: She's written to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen.

CHRIS MCEWAN: If we're bringing in migrants just to use them for a couple of years, we've got to actually set up a decent system that's a lot more humane than it is now. We need skilled workers but we've got to really be far more humane about it.

LIZ HOBDAY: The member for Wannon, Dan Tehan, has spoken to the Minister on behalf of Midfield Meats, and says he received a good hearing.

DAN TEHAND: What they offer to the abattoir in Warrnambool is essential, they bring real skills to the trade and the community wants them to stay and also their employers want them to stay.

LIZ HOBDAY: Minister Bowen's office says it can't discuss individual cases, but the Minister may grant a visa to people who don't satisfy the criteria, if it's in the public interest or if there are exceptional circumstances.